Australia’s Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Union will be investigated by the Human Rights Commission over allegations that its leaders systematically exclude LGBTI people from leadership positions

Australia’s biggest union will be investigated over allegations of systematic discrimination against its gay and lesbian members attaining leadership positions after allegations were made at a Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

A witness at the Royal Commission recently accused the leadership of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Union (SDA) of refusing to allow openly gay or lesbian people to become union shop stewards and openly gay Australian Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson has agreed to open an investigation into the union.

2013 saw many gains and set backs in the fight for LGBTI rights in Australia - GSN looks back on a year of struggle in the Great Southern Land

2013 was a tumultuous year for LGBTI rights in Australia, with significant victories on the road to reform but also significant short term obstacles put in its way.

The LGBTI community started 2013 on a bit of a high with the 2012 national conference of the then ruling Australian Labor Party adopting same-sex marriage as part of its party platform in December of 2012 – though the party stopped short of binding MPs to vote for the reform.

2013 saw many gains and set backs in the fight for LGBTI rights in Australia - GSN looks back on a year of struggle in the Great Southern Land

2013 was a tumultuous year for LGBTI rights in Australia, with significant victories on the road to reform but also significant short term obstacles put in its way.

The LGBTI community started 2013 on a bit of a high with the 2012 national conference of the then ruling Australian Labor Party adopting same-sex marriage as part of its party platform in December of 2012 – though the party stopped short of binding MPs to vote for the reform.

Tony Abbott has won the election to become Australia's next Prime Minister.

The deeply religious leader of Australia's Liberal Party defeated the current Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, after opinion polls and an early exit poll all predicted a Liberal victory in the election.

Speaking about the polls, Australian Broadcasting Corporation election analyst Antony Green stated: 'The coalition is on a pretty secure 74 seats already. On that basis they're going to get a majority. I think we can say the government has been defeated.'

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has signed “Keep Calm” posters backing allowing same-sex couples to wed at an official campaign launch for a Labor candidate in another sign it is an issue that the Labor Party wants to use to differentiate itself during this year’s election

The man campaigning to be a three time Australian prime minister has signed posters backing marriage equality at an election campaign event – showing that the ruling Labor Party wants to use the issue to differentiate itself from Opposition leader Tony Abbott's Liberal/National Coalition of parties.

Rudd signed the posters at Perth’s Mt Lawley Bowling Club in Western Australia on Friday during a campaign launch for Labor candidate for the seat of Perth Alannah MacTiernan.

A group of around 25 people have held a snap protest action outside the headquarters of the ruling Australian Labor Party, occupying the building’s foyer while they called on the government to allow marriage equality

Around 25 activists from the group Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) occupied the foyer of the building that houses the headquarters of the Australian Labor Party after party officials refused to accept a petition that had been signed by around 15,000 people.

A group of around 25 people have held a snap protest action outside the headquarters of the ruling Australian Labor Party, occupying the building’s foyer while they called on the government to allow marriage equality

Around 25 activists from the group Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) occupied the foyer of the building that houses the headquarters of the Australian Labor Party after party officials refused to accept a petition that had been signed by around 15,000 people.

The campaign to legalize same-sex marriage in Australia raised over $20,000 in a month thanks to a mystery donor who pledged $10,000 if supporters would match him dollar for dollar

Australian marriage equality advocates were able to raise $20,769 in campaign funds in June thanks to an anonymous mystery donor who pledged to donate $10,000 if other supporters would match him dollar for dollar.

The anonymous donor approached advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality at their 5 June Equality Dinner at Sydney’s Cafe DOV and made the offer.

Australia’s new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has described himself as ‘a full signed up supporter of marriage equality,’ and has called on Opposition leader Tony Abbott to allow his MPs a free vote on the issue

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described himself as ‘the first Prime Minister of Australia to be a full signed up supporter of marriage equality,’ at a press conference today and challenged Opposition leader Tony Abbott to allow his MPs a free vote on the issue.

Australia’s new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has described himself as ‘a full signed up supporter of marriage equality,’ and has called on Opposition leader Tony Abbott to allow his MPs a free vote on the issue

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described himself as ‘the first Prime Minister of Australia to be a full signed up supporter of marriage equality,’ at a press conference today and challenged Opposition leader Tony Abbott to allow his MPs a free vote on the issue.

The ruling Australian Labor Party will decide within hours the leader it will take to September’s election, with the choice between an atheist woman who opposes marriage equality and a Christian man who thinks LGBTs should be allowed to marry

The ruling Australian Labor Party has announced a leadership spill, with MPs to decide who should lead the party as Prime Minister to the next election.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard called the spill after months of leadership speculation and this afternoon deposed former prime minister Kevin Rudd announced that he would put his hat in the ring.

The ruling Australian Labor Party will decide within hours the leader it will take to September’s election, with the choice between an atheist woman who opposes marriage equality and a Christian man who thinks LGBTs should be allowed to marry

The ruling Australian Labor Party has announced a leadership spill, with MPs to decide who should lead the party as Prime Minister to the next election.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard called the spill after months of leadership speculation and this afternoon deposed former prime minister Kevin Rudd announced that he would put his hat in the ring.

A newspaper columnist questioned the sexuality of the Australian prime minister's boyfriend again on a TV show yesterday.

On Sunday discussion TV show ABC Insiders right-wing newspaper columnist Piers Akerman said 'a lot of people in the Canberra [press] gallery have been saying the same thing [as radio host Howard Sattler]'.

Guests on ABC Insiders were discussing Sattler's live radio interview with Prime Minister Julia Gillard last week, in which he asked if her parter Tim Mathieson is gay.

A newspaper columnist questioned the sexuality of the Australian prime minister's boyfriend again on a TV show yesterday.

On Sunday discussion TV show ABC Insiders right-wing newspaper columnist Piers Akerman said 'a lot of people in the Canberra [press] gallery have been saying the same thing [as radio host Howard Sattler]'.

Guests on ABC Insiders were discussing Sattler's live radio interview with Prime Minister Julia Gillard last week, in which he asked if her parter Tim Mathieson is gay.

‘In the wake of yesterday’s interview Radio 6PR suspended Mr Sattler from Broadcasting pending a review of the matter today,’ the statement said. ‘The station has now decided to terminate Mr Sattler's engagement.’